Largest aluminium can sculpture: Japanese 'castle' breaks Guinness world record

TOYOHASHI, Japan -- The Toyohashi Junior Chamber's project of recreating the Yoshida Castle's corner tower made up of 104,840 aluminum cans in the shadow of the historic Yoshida Castle in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, breaks the Guinness World Records' record set by a structure built in Saudi Arabia in May this year, which used 66,400 cans, and sets the new world record for the Largest aluminium can sculpture,
according to the World Record Academy: www.worldrecordacademy.com/.

Photo: People pose for a photo in front of a castle made of aluminum cans in Toyohashi Park, which sits on the site of Yoshida Castle, in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, on Sept. 21. The reconstructed tower of the castle is in the background. Photo: The Asahi Shimbun (enlarge photo)

The previous Guinness World Records' record for the largest aluminium can sculpture was made of 66,400 cans and was achieved by Saudi Industrial projects Co. SIPCO Pepsi Cola – Bugshan (Saudi Arabia), at Mall of Arabia, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 27 May 2013.

Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the longest aluminum can chain; it measured 8.65 km (5.37 miles) and used 66,343 drink cans, and was created by Aluminum Association (USA), at the Brown County Fairgrounds, Green Bay, Wisconsin USA.

The Toyohashi Junior Chamber had been engaged in the project since June to show the importance of recyclable materials at Toyohashi Park, located on the site of historic Yoshida Castle, The Asahi Shimbun reported.

The world's largest aluminium can sculpture draws its design from the reconstructed corner tower of Yoshida Castle. The landmark structure was destroyed in a fire during the Meiji Era (1868-1912) and reconstructed shortly after the end of World War II.

The largest aluminium can sculpture in the world, which was built in a plaza in front of the tower and measures 6.6 meters in width, 5.5 meters in length and 5 meters in height, is entirely constructed with aluminum cans. The cans were affixed with an adhesive agent.

The statue represented the central tower of Takatori Castle in Nara. Majority of the aluminium cans used to construct the statue were recycled from 380 neighboring households, while some were donated by companies.
The organisers started collecting cans from January 2012, began constructing in May, and finished making the statue on 28

Shinsuke Nakazawa, the junior chamber director, expressed gratitude to Toyohashi citizens for their cooperation and support. "If they did not cooperate with us in the collection and piling up of aluminum cans, we would not be able to complete this project," said Nakazawa, 39.

The World's largest aluminum can sculpture will be on display through the Toyohashi Matsuri festival, which will be held on Oct. 19 and 20.
The city government is considering continuing to exhibit the artwork after the event.